Boltless rail joint and splice



R. L. CONNER BOL'IILESS RAIL JOINT AND SPLICE 2 SHEETSSHEET l ,HI W

f INVENTOR. Zfusselll. P0 1 28? April 28, 1953 Fiied May 9, 1950 m .9 we

April 28, 1953 R. CONNER 2,636,686

BOLTLESS RAIL J OINT AND SPLICE Filed May 9, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

Russ??? .5. Former ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED n j 2,636,686 I a BQLTLESS JOINT SPLIC Russell Lcconner, Delaware, Ohio Application May 9, 1950, Serial No. 160,852

n The present invention relates generallyto rail joints or splices of the type employed in rigidly connecting the adjoining ends of a plurality of rail sections, or in repairing a split or broken rail section by splicing the broken ends thereof together in a manner to provide for continuous usage of such section until the same can be replaced by a permanent new section. V

In the past, the usual method of joining the ends of rail sections to one another consisted of applying on either side of the adjoining ends of two sections a pair of fish plates, and thereafter bolting such plates together through the web por tion of theadjoining ends of the rail sections. In many cases, the use of the ordinary fish plate was insufiicient to secure a satisfactory rigid connection between the adjoining ends of rail sections, and it oftentimes happened thatthe ordinary fish plates would work loose to permit relative vertical movement between the individual rail sections and consequent jarring and pounding of the wheels of a railway vehicle when passing over the adjoining end portions of the rail sections.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved joint and/ or splice to be used in permanently aligning and rigidly joining the mating ends of separate rail sections, or in splicing the broken ends of a broken rail section.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rail joint or splice which functions to securelyand rigidly join the mating ends .of rail sections independently of the use of bolts or other fastening devices which are ordinarily employed in conjunction 'Wlth fiSh plates to unite the ends of such rail sections.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved rail joint and splice which com prises a plurality of cooperative members which may be applied to the rail joint while the same occupies its operative position on the supporting cross-ties and track bed, and wherein the mating ends comprisingthe joint are rigidly and firmly united by driving a wedge-shaped member into the present assembly to completely eliminate any slack within the joint assembly, and at the same time to tightly draw the separateand Opposed members of the joint into engagement with the ball, web and base portions of the rail sections. 7 Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved temporary rail splice which may 'beemployed in splicing and rigidly joiningbroken' ends of an individual railsection without necessitating. the removal of the broken a 1 Claim. (01. 238-'-207) section prior to the continued operation of rail-- way vehicles over the track.

For a further and more detailed'understanding of" the present invention and the various additional objects and advantages realized therefrom, reference is made to the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a permanent type rail joint formed in accordance with the present invention, and occupying its operative position with relation to the adjoining ends of a pair of rail sections;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the rail joint disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the present rail joint prior to the driving of the locking wedge;

Fig. 3a is a similar view taken through the rail joint after driving of the wedge element;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view, partially in horizontal section, of the present improved rail joint showing the same applied to the adjoining end portions of a pair of rail sections;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modified temporary splice or joint formed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the rail splice disclosed in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a persepective view of the locking wedge employed in the present temporary splice construction;

Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the detachable groove or socket device employed with the present rail splice; and

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of the splice, disclosing the attachment of the wedge-receiving socket member.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1-4 thereof, it will be seen that my present improved rail joint comprisesan elongated metallic body, generally indicated by the numeral In, which is formed on one side thereof with a longitudinally extending substantially U-shaped plate H whose inner surface, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, provides a first angularly related flange which engages the under side of the ball portions of a pair of adjoining rail sections I2 and I3, an intermediate vertically arranged face portion which engages one side of the web of such sections, and asecond angularly related flange which engages the upper surface of the base or heel portions of the rail sections. It will be seen that the plate l l is formed so as to fit snugly the contour of the rail sections along one side thereof below the ball portion of such rail. Rigidly secured to the plate member H of the body are a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending reenforcing webs M which extend transversely from the plate I I beneath the rail sections 62 and I3 and terminate on the opposite sides of the rail sections in hooked extremities l5. Each of the transverse reenforcing webs It is formed to provide a seat region for the base or heel portion of the rail sections, and toward this end, the reenforcing members. M- are. provided with recesses iii to receive one side of the heel portion of the rail sections it and It. The body it is provided intermediately of the reeniorcing webs M with a socketed boss formation. ll for the detachable reception of an additional reenforoingweb. it: which is substantially identical to the webs it formed integrally with the plate member I i". The detachable web it, advantageously, ma: he positioned-ii transverse alignment with the acdoining edges of the rail sections l2 and E3 to reeniorce the joint along the juncture with the two rail sections. will be understood; howeventhat the integral reenforcing webs it serve to strengthen therail joint'on either side of the adioL ng edges of the rail sections 52 and it, while detachable re enforcing web it functions to strengthen joint along the plane of the mating edges of the rail sections 52 and E3,

The hooked extremities, ii of the 'rcenfcrcing webs provide a plurality of Ll-shaped sockets which detachably receive a longitudinally extendingchannel member 19. The member I9 is provided at spaced intervals with a plurality of channeled boss formations which snugly receive the hooked extremities iii of the reenforc ingwcbs it. Additionally, the channel member 59. is provided with an upstanding shoulder or web 2! and a longitudinally extending tapered channel 22.

Positioned adjacent the opposite side oi the rail sections 52 and i3 is a second substantially U-shaped' rail-engaging plate 23 whose cross-- sectional" configuration substantially identical to the plate member liformed on the body'- ill. The plate 23 engages the under side surface, of the ball portions of the sections it and E3, the inner side surfaces of the web portions. of the rail sections, and the upper surface of the heel or base sections of the rail sections. As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the? plate members i! and, 523 are arran ed: so as to fit rather loosely against. the web surfaces of the rail sections prior to the application of the locking device, as hereinafter more fully'described. The plate members i i and 23 may advantageously'be joined to the side surfaces'cf the rail sections by. means of pins which extend through openings formed transversely of the webs oi the rail sections it and 53-. The p-ins'id function to prevent longitudinal movement of the plate members ii and 23 relative to the rail sections, but in no way function. to rigidly join the plates H and to the webs of the rail sections prior to the application of the locking device which forms a part oi the present joint assembly.

To lock the joint in its operative position with respect to the individual rail sections, I employ a longitudinally extending wedge plate 25 which is formed with angularly related webs 26 and 21. The upright web 25 f the wedge device is of a width to fit snugly against the intermediate web of the plate 23, and the outer edge of the laterally extending web 2'! of the wedging device is tapered longitudinallycorresponding to the taper ofthe channel member-iii. In operation, the wedge device. is inserted within the wider end; ofthe channel 220i. the member 19- andin abuttingreof a plurality lation to the plate 23. The wedge device is then driven longitudinally of the rail joint, and due to the nature of the tapered outer edge thereof and the tapered channel member iii, the hooked extremities [5 of the transverse reenforcing webs M are eifectively pushed outwardly and laterally with respect to the rail sections to cause a corresponding inward movement of the plate member I i into tight-fitting engagement with the opposite side of the rail sections, while at the same time the plate member 23 is pressed inwardly to clamp the web, ball, and heel portions of the rail sections. The channel member i5] and wedge device 25 are providedwith a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings which ma be brought into register as the wedge device is driven home. These openings serve to receive a headed pin 28 which is inserted upwardly through the lower surface of the channel member it, and which is formed with transversely disposed openings through which an electrical conductorzii may-be passed to be joined at its respective ends with theindirvidual rail sections, as at iii, and through which a cotter key may be positioned to hold. the pin against displacement. It will be understood that the conductor 29 provides electrical connection between the individual rail sections, in order that an electrical circuit may be completed through the individual rail sections to a suitable signal device. Also, the channel member 19, toward its outer the wedge device'25 are provided with additional pin-receiving openings 28a through which additional locking pins may be inserted downwardly, as at 281), to hold the wedge device and channel member against separation.

Figures 5-9 of the drawings disclose; a modified construction comprising a more or less temporary rail joint or splice which may advantageously be employed in effecting a, quick and efficient repair of a broken rail section without necessitating relaying. such section prior to the passage of traffic over th track. In this modified construction the numeral 40 generally desighates the integral body comprising the U-shaped plate member 4| and. the transversely extending longitudinally spaced reenforcing webs 42.- As in the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 14, the transverse reenforcing webs 52 extend. laterally beneath the base or heel of the. rail sections and terminate on the opposite side of said sections in hooked extremities i. The. hooked extremities 43 of the reenforcing webs receive. the channel member 44 which is, provided with. the slotted bosses 45 for the reception of. the. hooked end extremitiesv 43.. As shown. particularly. in Fig, 9 of the, drawings, the channel. member 4.4 may be detached from the hooked extremities. 4,3. The temporary splicev also embodies, a. tapered wedge device 4'! which. comprises the angularly related webs 48 and 39. The upright. web 48 is bent longitudinally, as. at. 58,- to provide clearance between the upright web and the heads of any bolts or fastening devices normally extending through the web of the rail section. Further, the bend within the upright web it provides. increased resiliency within the web as the wedge device 41 is driven home. Additionally, the horizontal or transverse web 49 of the wedge device is provided with a longitudinallyextending shoulder or abutment 51 which is adapted to engage the upright web formation 52 formed along the inner edge of the channel memberM; The shoulder formation 5i'is disposed in. acutely angular relation to the. longitudinal axis of the wedge device, as is the upstanding web formation. 5-2 on the channel. member 4.4.; Thus; as theiwedge 

